Loches, Centre-Val de Loire 37600

A former abbatial dwelling, listed as a regional Historical Monument, with a walled garden and canal, in a historical Touraine village, near Loches. In the middle of the village, the edifice, listed as a regional Historical Monument and in all likelihood dating back to the 14th century, was once the residence for a Benedictine abbey, whose 18th-century buildings still stand directly opposite. With three storeys, the dwelling features a tall and wide gable end, facing the street, with stone edging, as well as a 'Montpellier squinch' with stone corbels, while its slate roof is typical of buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries. As for the main façade, perpendicular to the street and overlooking the garden, the latter of which is accessible via a gate and bordered by a small canal, it boasts a number of various size windows as well as two square turrets on either side, including one topped with a slate hipped roof, whereas on its street side, an ancient wing, built out of ashlar stone, is topped with a flat tile single-pitch roof. Last, but not least, the dwelling's northern side and western gable end, facing the canal and also crowned with stone edging, were visibly adjusted in the 17th century with the addition of three large windows on each floor in order to make them blend in seamlessly with the 'new' perpendicular wing from the same era, which is now a separate property.